INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization, with 190 member countries. Our role is to enable police around the world to work together to make the world a safer place. Our high-tech infrastructure of technical and operational support helps meet the growing challenges of fighting crime in the 21st century.

This is where you will find the latest news and multimedia from INTERPOL. Read our news stories and speeches; see the Organization in action through videos and photo galleries; and download our fact sheets, brochures and annual reports.

Our global police communications channels and internationally recognized alert systems allow police around the world to share data instantly and securely. A 24-hour contact point and specialized teams provide targeted support to serious crime or disaster incidents.

Operations

At INTERPOL, we support national police in tactical deployments in the field, aimed at breaking up the criminal networks behind trafficking in human beings and people smuggling.

Operations are preceded by training workshops to ensure that officers on the ground are trained in a range of skills, including specialist interview techniques. Deployments effectively combine police action with input from a number of different sectors such as customs and environmental officers, non-governmental organizations, officials from the Ministries of Health and Social Affairs, and prosecutors.

At the heart of the project is the extension of access for police at strategic border points to INTERPOL's secure global police communications network (known as I-24/7). This allows officers to check passenger documents against the INTERPOL Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) Database. Containing in excess of 30 million lost or stolen travel documents this unique worldwide database is a crucial operational tool and one that plays a vital role in the fight against people smuggling and other organized criminal activities.

This extended access is backed up by analytical training and operational support. This enhanced infrastructure provides immediate benefits during tactical deployments, along with a lasting legacy of improved operational capacity for the country in question.

Rwanda (2013)

During an operation at Kigali International Airport, Rwandan police checked more than 6,500 international arriving and departing traveller’s identity documents against INTERPOL’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents database.

Algeria (2012)

Organized in coordination with the General Directorate of National Safety of Algeria and the National Central Bureau in Algiers, 80 participants including police, border control, Gendarmerie and customs learned to use the SLTD database and other techniques for detecting fraudulent documents. The training was followed by an operation at the Algiers airport.

Italy (2011)

Operation Hammer was conducted in conjunction with Frontex, the European Union agency for external border security. Border police at the international airports of Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa checked 8,000 travel documents over four days, resulting in three positive matches.

Kenya (2011)

Some 40 police officers benefited from training in the use of INTERPOL's Stolen and Lost Travel Documents database, standard operational policy and procedures and techniques for passport verification. The operation itself took place at Nairobi airport in July 2011.

Benin (2011)

This operation at Cotonou international airport was preceded by two days of training provided to 36 officers from Benin’s Immigration Police, Customs and Gendarmerie.

Philippines (2010)

During an operation at Manila International Airport in April 2010, more than 5,000 international arrivals and departures were instantly checked against the INTERPOL Stolen and Lost Travel Documents. A total of 50 Philippine police and immigration officers were trained on how to use INTERPOL’s global tools and services.

Peru (2008)

Operation Anaconda, carried out at the international airport in Lima, Peru, saw more than 20,000 international arrivals and departures instantly checked against our Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database. The checks resulted in some 200 database matches which were then followed up by national law enforcement authorities.